 |
| Mario |
Mario says he is too busy to serve King and country by entering the draw, and that Thais can serve in other ways - merely by being good people.
His remarks surprised some fans, who wonder whether he is really that interested in doing his duty.
The military, meanwhile, wants to take a look at his university attendance record to make sure he is studying, rather than entertaining. A deferral is allowed for study, but not if the student is really working.
"Many people will be affected if my name is drawn for conscription service. I can't afford to take the risk,'' Mario said.
"What will happen to the work I have completed but which has yet to be released? If they want to make changes, I need to be around to help.''
Mario, 22, was among half a dozen prominent people named by the military last week as those who are eligible for this year's draw, which takes place early next month.
The actor, however, said he will apply to have the draw rolled over for another year, his third deferral in a row.
Mario is not worried about public reaction, however, as he reckons he still does his bit for King and country.
"Thais can serve the nation in noble ways other than being soldiers. As actors, we are helping keep our fans entertained, which is a form of service to the country. Just by being good people, we can serve the King,'' he said hopefully.
Other celebrities called up for military service this year include singer Pirat "Mike'' Nitipaisalkul, and actors Alex Rendell and Chanapol "Aof'' Sattaya.
Alex Rendell, who is being called for the draw this year for the first time, said he will seek a deferral when he reports to his military recruitment office next month, as he is too busy with work and study.
 |
| Alex |
"However, I would like to graduate at the same time as my peers, so will ask to put it off until I finish my degree,'' he said.
Thais who enter their 21st year and who haven't performed military reserve training at school have to report for conscription.
Those who draw a red card have to enter service for up to two years. Those who draw a black card can breathe a sigh of relief and resume their normal lives.
However, Thais who are studying can apply to have their name deferred for the conscription draw until they are 26, or have finished their studies.
Actor Aof said he will apply for an exemption on health grounds this year for a third time, after he suffered a collapsed lung while on the set of a soap opera.
"I am not applying for a deferral, and nor did I apply for one last year. My health isn't up to military service,'' he said.
Mike Pirat, formerly of the singing duo Golf and Mike, has yet to declare whether he will join the draw. Siam Dara magazine says he is likely to apply for a deferral - just like his elder brother Golf the year before - as he is still studying.
Mike told reporters last month that he regards performing as service to the nation, which suggests that, like Mario, he believes that lining up for the conscription draw can just wait.
On web boards, people wonder what superstar Mario could be thinking when he claims that good behaviour alone qualifies as service to the nation.
"If that was the case, Mario, nobody would bother signing up for military service, and we'd have no one to protect the nation,'' one wrote.
A spokesman for the army chief said the military would ask to look at Mario's university attendance records.
Mario, a second-year student at Ramkamhaeng University, said the military is welcome to check his records. The university applies for deferrals on his behalf.
"I admit that I have not studied regularly in the last year, as I have been too busy with work. However, I have now arranged my schedule to fit in better with my work commitments,'' he said. -
2.
For Ad Carabao, a rocker can never be too old to smash up his guitar on stage.
At the Season music awards on Wednesday, Yuenyong "Ad'' Ophakul, 56, stunned his audience as he threw his guitar to the stage and stormed off in a rage.
Ad and his band, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary, had just performed a mini-concert during a break in the awards.
As they were leaving the stage, the DJ host invited them back to perform one more song. The band obliged, but Ad had barely put on his guitar when he had a change of mind.
He yanked it off, threw it to the ground, and stormed off stage.
Ad went before the media the next day to apologise. "I have to say sorry, because I behaved poorly,'' he said.
"We had been rehearsing a concert two days straight, and I was lacking sleep. I was also having problems with some of my stage hands. My microphone and amplifier were not loud enough.
"When I called one, he failed to respond. I snapped, and threw down my guitar to spite him,'' he said.
Ad apologised to the organiser for "stealing the show'', and asked the media to excuse excesses in his artistic temperament.
"I was drinking, but not drunk,'' he said.
He also urged young people not to follow his example. "When I was young, I would have punched and kicked someone by now. These days, I merely throw my guitar to the stage.''
He would like to sack the stage hand responsible, but felt sorry for his wife and children.
"If my father was still with us, I could expect a sermon about my poor behaviour,'' he said.
Ad said he regretted the damage to his guitar, which was a gift from a friend. "However, I have taken a look, and it can probably be repaired,'' he said. -
 |
| Ad |
At the Season music awards on Wednesday, Yuenyong "Ad'' Ophakul, 56, stunned his audience as he threw his guitar to the stage and stormed off in a rage.
Ad and his band, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary, had just performed a mini-concert during a break in the awards.
As they were leaving the stage, the DJ host invited them back to perform one more song. The band obliged, but Ad had barely put on his guitar when he had a change of mind.
He yanked it off, threw it to the ground, and stormed off stage.
Ad went before the media the next day to apologise. "I have to say sorry, because I behaved poorly,'' he said.
"We had been rehearsing a concert two days straight, and I was lacking sleep. I was also having problems with some of my stage hands. My microphone and amplifier were not loud enough.
"When I called one, he failed to respond. I snapped, and threw down my guitar to spite him,'' he said.
Ad apologised to the organiser for "stealing the show'', and asked the media to excuse excesses in his artistic temperament.
"I was drinking, but not drunk,'' he said.
He also urged young people not to follow his example. "When I was young, I would have punched and kicked someone by now. These days, I merely throw my guitar to the stage.''
He would like to sack the stage hand responsible, but felt sorry for his wife and children.
"If my father was still with us, I could expect a sermon about my poor behaviour,'' he said.
Ad said he regretted the damage to his guitar, which was a gift from a friend. "However, I have taken a look, and it can probably be repaired,'' he said. -
3.
Model Thichacha "Cream'' Jareonpongpreecha won't let a mere nuisance caller put her off posing for daring fashion shoots.
Cream, also a singer and actress, said police have made no progress in tracking down her phone admirer, who calls her daily asking for sex.
The star of the sexy movie Sin Sisters 2 on Feb 4 appealed to Wang Thonglang police, after a complaint she filed at a different station last July failed to help.
Cream is not sure if the caller is the same one who prompted her complaint to Chokechai police last year. That caller plagued her for nine months - up to 50 to 60 times a day - also asking for sex.
"The calls haven't stopped. In the morning, he calls. At night, he calls. He calls so regularly it's become a daily routine. When I call police, they tell me they are too busy to help. I don't want to pressure them ... I suppose they have more important things to do,'' she said.
However, even as she is bugged by nuisance calls, Cream is still taking her clothes off for the fashion photographer.
She has just completed a photo album shoot, posing in a bikini. "It's the first time I have taken off so many clothes,'' she said. Asked whether such behaviour doesn't merely encourage perverts, Cream says she will have to take precautions. "I will ask someone else to answer my calls,'' she said.
 |
| Cream |
Cream, also a singer and actress, said police have made no progress in tracking down her phone admirer, who calls her daily asking for sex.
The star of the sexy movie Sin Sisters 2 on Feb 4 appealed to Wang Thonglang police, after a complaint she filed at a different station last July failed to help.
Cream is not sure if the caller is the same one who prompted her complaint to Chokechai police last year. That caller plagued her for nine months - up to 50 to 60 times a day - also asking for sex.
"The calls haven't stopped. In the morning, he calls. At night, he calls. He calls so regularly it's become a daily routine. When I call police, they tell me they are too busy to help. I don't want to pressure them ... I suppose they have more important things to do,'' she said.
However, even as she is bugged by nuisance calls, Cream is still taking her clothes off for the fashion photographer.
She has just completed a photo album shoot, posing in a bikini. "It's the first time I have taken off so many clothes,'' she said. Asked whether such behaviour doesn't merely encourage perverts, Cream says she will have to take precautions. "I will ask someone else to answer my calls,'' she said.
No comments:
Post a Comment